Real talk about life, church and other fun things.

So I just finished Cynthia Bourgeault's book, The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Bourgealt's teaching is one of those profound truths that, when encountered, pulls the student simultaneously backwards in lament for not having seen it before and forward into the endless possibilities of the truth lived out…

In this week's readings, we find ourselves in Ephesians 4, listening to Paul's encouragement in "Christian Living" (as the inspired sub-heading tells us.) As we are discussing the finer theological merits of the passage, one person speaks out and asks, "What does that word 'tenderhearted' mean in the Greek?" 32 and be kind to one another,…

I picked up a Lenten Bible study off the couch yesterday and opened it up. "We are but dust, but we have a Savior!" That was the first line of the thing. I read a bit more and didn't think much about it. This morning, on Ash Wednesday, we read Jesus' teachings in Matthew 6,…

The OT lesson for Thanksgiving Day this year is from Deuteronomy 26: 1-11. Before you write this off as another boring, dusty, irrelevant text, take a brief moment to read it here. In a season where my tradition has alienated almost everyone, I am especially reminded of the biblical mandate for welcoming, caring for, and loving…

I’ve had an awesome opportunity to chat with some close friends who each have children with special needs. They were kind enough to listen to my ignorant questions and gracious enough to help me understand some of the real struggles that they face each day. They also shared joyful stories of how they have been blessed…

The Old Testament lesson from the lectionary this week is from Jeremiah 23:1-6. In the first two verses, God gives a stern "Woe" to Judah's leaders, accusing them of driving God's flock away. The former shepherds in question are the kings of Judah who have failed to protect the flock. In the previous chapters, Jeremiah…

I have been doing a lot of thinking about why the election has upset me so much. Through a lot of introspection, I have devised a list of things that are not the cause. The evangelical vote doesn't upset me. The difference between the popular vote and the electoral college doesn't upset me. The partisan rhetoric before,…

What does it look like to love someone with special needs? I have had the honor and the blessing of interviewing a few folks to find out what challenges and blessings come with caring for someone with special needs. I went into each interview thinking that I already knew pretty much what each of them…

Rachel Held Evans was a joy to listen to last Friday evening. She read several excerpts from her book, Searching For Sunday, and spoke specifically on what she likes to call "keeping the Church weird." She gives this message in response to the common question, "Why are millennials leaving the church?" She smartly recognizes that our generation…

I would be a liar if I said I was the perfect husband. But it would be a lie of omission not to say that I'm pretty darn close 🙂 Ok... well lets change that to pretty darn funny. I'll be watching my back for the flying pillows that will signify that Dessa has finally read this…